Beverage machine

ABSTRACT

A beverage machine ( 1 ), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine has an adjusting device ( 2 ) for height-adjusting a cup platform ( 3 ). The adjusting device ( 2 ) encompasses two parallel, vertical toothed belt/chain drives ( 4, 4′ ), which are connected to one another in a torque proof manner at an upper/lower end via a shaft ( 5 ) and that the cup platform ( 3 ) encompasses two lateral guide carriages ( 6, 6′ ), which can be coupled to the respectively assigned toothed belt/chain drive ( 4, 4′ ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates to a beverage machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, comprising an adjusting device for height-adjusting a cup platform according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention furthermore relates to an adjusting device for such a beverage machine as well as to a magnetic brake for such an adjusting device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Different cup sizes and an increasing variety of beverages, which are to be prepared, make it necessary to design an outlet level of beverage machine, in particular of a coffee machine, to be adjustable. Most of the beverage machines or coffee machines, respectively, thus operate with height-adjustable outlets. However, these outlets become more and more complex, because lines of steam boilers, milk containers, mixed chocolate beverages, syrup or coffee increasingly lead to the outlet area of the beverage machine. The height adjustment of such complex outlets thus becomes more and more difficult and more susceptible to breakdowns, because parts of the outlets must partly be cleaned every day by the customer, which additionally increases the complexity. New generations of beverage machines thus already operate with height-adjustable cup platforms.

The invention relates to an improved beverage machine that provides simple handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is based on the general idea of providing a beverage machine comprising an adjusting device for height-adjusting a cup platform, which is known per se, with two parallel, vertical toothed belt/chain drives, which are connected to one another in a torque proof manner at an upper/lower end via a shaft. The corresponding height-adjustable cup platform encompasses lateral guide carriages, which can be coupled to the respective assigned toothed belt/chain drive. The beverage machine according to the invention thus provides for an adjustment of the cup platform, which does not jam, because it is guided twofold, wherein the lateral guiding of the cup platform additionally keeps clear an area of a set-up surface of the cup platform, which typically contains a container for the grounds and which must partly be emptied several times a day by the customer. To empty the container for the grounds, the user of the beverage machine must thus only move the cup platform downwards and must not remove it laboriously, as was necessary before. By means of the bilateral guiding and the connection of the two toothed belt/chain drives via the shaft, which is preferably located on top, a jamming can additionally be avoided, even in response to a one-sided actuation of the cup platform, whereby the use and handling of the beverage machine according to the invention and of the adjusting device according to the invention as a whole are simplified considerably.

In the case of an advantageous further development of the solution according to the invention, the cup platform together with the guide carriage can be removed from the adjusting device and/or the adjusting device can be removed from the beverage machine. Both embodiments ensure a simple removal of the respective component for cleaning purposes, whereby the use and in particular also the maintenance of the beverage machine according to the invention is simplified considerably, in particular for laypersons. The easy removability of the cup platform or of the adjusting device is indispensable, because contaminations, for example when beverage container overflow, can occur easily, in particular in the area of the cup platform. The use of the beverage machine is thus facilitated considerably for the customer by means of the flexible disassembly possibility of the cup platform or of the adjusting device, respectively.

Advantageously, provision is made in the area of the toothed belt/chain drive for a magnetic brake, which decelerates a movement of the cup platform downwards. In response to the downward movement, this magnetic brake applies a holding torque, which means that the lowering of the cup platform is avoided up to a predetermined force, for example up to 20 N. The magnetic brake thereby works such that a magnetic detent torque (holding torque) is generated. In the event a shaft of the magnetic brake starts to move when this detent torque is exceeded, the magnetic forces of attraction and repulsion of the magnetic brake are approximately cancelled out or reduce the braking torque to a considerably smaller value than the detent torque, respectively. To be able to reduce the necessary torques from the shaft of the toothed belt/chain drive to the magnetic brake, provision can be made within the magnetic brake for a gear mechanism. In addition, provision can be made for a freewheel assembly, which provides for a free upwards movement of the cup platform and which releases the magnetic brake in response to an upwards movement of the cup platform, because a holding torque and also a braking torque are not required here. To improve a surface feel in response to the adjusting movement, an additional flywheel mass, which acts like a friction drive in the case of toy vehicles, for examples, can be arranged in/at the magnetic brake, and can thus ensure a significant start-up as well as a smooth stop.

In the case of a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the adjusting device can be adjustable manually or by means of a corresponding motor. Depending on the equipment line of the beverage machine or of the corresponding adjusting device, respectively, a purely manual or a motor-supported height adjustment of the cup platform can thus take place.

Further important features and advantages of the invention follow from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the corresponding figure description by means of the drawings.

It goes without saying that the above-mentioned features and the features, which will still be specified below, cannot only be used in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without leaving the context of the instant invention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be defined in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same components or to similar or functionally equal components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an adjusting device according to the invention for a beverage machine.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed illustration of a guide carriage in a corresponding guide track.

FIG. 3 shows an illustration as in FIG. 2, but from a different perspective.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional illustration through a magnetic brake according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to FIG. 1, the beverage machine 1 according to the invention, which can be embodied as a fully automatic coffee machine, for example, encompasses an adjusting device 2 for height-adjusting a cup platform 3. The adjusting device 2 according to the invention has two parallel, vertical toothed belt/chain drives 4 and 4′, which are connected to one another in a torque proof manner at an upper end via a shaft 5. The shaft 5 thereby ensures a steady adjustment of the two toothed belt/chain drives 4 and 4′. In addition, the cup platform 3 has two lateral guide carriages 6 and 6′, which can be coupled to the respectively assigned toothed belt/chain drive 4, 4′. The two guide carriages 6, 6′ thereby have two rollers 7 in each case (see also FIG. 3), by means of which they are guided in corresponding guide tracks 8, 8′ of the adjusting device 2.

By means of the bilateral guiding of the cup platforms 3 via the two guide carriages 6, 6′, an adjustment of the cup platform 3 can be obtained without tilting, even if it is only lifted or lowered on one side, respectively. At the same time, the embodiment and storage of the cup platform 3 according to the invention via the two lateral guide carriages 6, 6′ provides the large advantage that a space 9, which is arranged behind it and in which a container for the grounds is typically arranged, remains freely accessible, so that the adjusting device 2 or the cup platform 3, respectively, must no longer be removed laboriously for emptying the container for the grounds, as was necessary before. In the case of the adjusting device 2 according to the invention, the cup platform 3 can be adjusted by hand as well as by means of a non-illustrated motor, that is, in a motor-driven manner. At the same time, the cup platform 3 can be removed from the adjusting device 2 together with the guide carriages 6 and 6′, in that the guide carriages 6, 6′ are moved out of the corresponding guide tracks 8, 8′. In addition or in the alternative, the adjusting device 2 can also be removed from the beverage machine 1, whereby a particularly simple cleaning and thus simple handling become possible.

When considering FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the guide tracks 8, 8′ are located in an area, which can easily be accessed from the front for cleaning purposes, whereas the vertical toothed belt/chain drives 4, 4′ (see FIG. 3) are arranged so as to be covered, that is, they are not easily accessible, but can instead be arranged so as to be protected against contamination.

It can be seen according to FIG. 3 that a gripper element 10 is arranged at each guide carriage, here at the guide carriage 6′, by means of which a connection to the corresponding toothed belt/chain drive 4, 4′ can be established in that the gripper element 10 engages with a recess 11 at the corresponding toothed belt 12 or at a corresponding chain of the toothed belt/chain drive 4, 4′. The gripper element 10 is thereby embodied like a catch nose and passes only through a comparatively small groove 13 (see FIG. 2) between the guide track 8, 8′ and the toothed belt/chain drive 4, 4′. Generally, in its lowermost position, the guide carriage 6, 6′ can simply be swiveled out of the corresponding guide track 8, 8′ and the cup platform 3 can thus be removed. By means of a simple screw it can hereby be determined optionally whether the removal is to be made possible for the customer or only by a service technician.

In the event that the corresponding toothed belt 12 is meanwhile in a different position for the assembly of the cup platform 3 via the guide carriages 6, 6′, for example due to a motor-driven adjustment or an adjustment in response to cleaning, the guide carriage 6, 6′ can be inserted into the guide track 8, 8′ and can be moved upwards by hand. Due to the geometry of the gripper element 10 arranged at each guide carriage 6, 6′ and due to the fact that the toothed belt 12 can be moved downwards, an engagement in each belt position is possible again. In any case, the geometry between the recess 11 at the toothed belt 12 or the chain, respectively, and the gripper element 10, is designed such that a disengagement is possible only by swiveling out the guide carriage 6, 6′ in its lowermost position.

The adjusting device 2 according to the invention and the corresponding cup platform 3 according to the invention provide for a simple cleaning, in particular by means of a simple removal of these components from the beverage machine 1, as well as for a height adjustment of the cup platform 3 without jamming, because a tilting of the guide carriages 6, 6′ by means of the two toothed belt/chain drives 4, 4′, which are coupled to one another via the shaft 5, can be avoided reliably. This is so, because, in the event that the cup platform 3 is moved on one side, the movement force is transmitted via the common shaft to the other side, that is, to the other guide carriage 6, 6′.

Diverse holding and drive components, e.g. a magnetic brake 14, as is illustrated according to FIG. 4, motors, gear mechanisms, warp spring clutches, etc., can now also be realized via the common shaft 5. Provision can thus be made in the area of the toothed belt/chain drive 4, 4′ and in particular in the area of the shaft 5, for the afore-mentioned magnetic brake 14, which decelerates a downwards movement of the cup platform 3. In the opposite direction of rotation, the magnetic brake 14 encompasses a freewheel assembly 18, so that an unbraked upwards movement of the cup platform 3 is possible. The magnetic brake 14 is thereby preferably flange-mounted to the shaft 5 of the toothed belt/chain drive 4, 4′.

The magnetic brake 14 can furthermore encompass a gear mechanism 15, in particular a transmission gear, as well as a flywheel mass 6. An increase of the speed as compared to a shaft speed is obtained by means of the gear mechanism 15. The integrated magnetic brake 14 applies a holding torque in response to the downwards movement of the cup platform 3, that is, the lowering the cup platform 3 is to be avoided up to a certain force, for example up to 20 N. The magnetic brake 14 thereby works such that a magnetic detent torque (holding torque) is present, wherein the driven shaft 5 starts to move when this holding torque is exceeded and the magnetic forces of attraction and repulsion of a detent brake 17 are approximately cancelled out through this or reduce a braking torque to a considerably smaller value than a detent torque, respectively. The necessary torques from the shaft 5 of the toothed belt/chain drive 4, 4′ to the magnetic brake 14, that is, the detent brake 17, can additionally be reduced by means of the gear mechanism 15. To improve the surface feel in response to the adjustment, provision can additionally be made for the flywheel mass 16, which is mentioned above, which reacts like a friction drive and which thus ensures a significant start-up as well as a smooth stop.

Such a magnetic brake 14 can generally also be used at a different location of the beverage machine 1, in particular for holding and/or braking a front baffle, doors, flaps or covering parts, for instance. Advantageously, such a magnetic brake 14 is used in such parts, which are to be held against the force of gravity and/or which are to be braked. The magnetic brake 14 can thereby encompass detent steps, but also an increasing or decreasing brake effect in one direction. 

1. A beverage machine (1), comprising an adjusting device (2) for height-adjusting a cup platform (3), characterized in, that the adjusting device (2) encompasses two parallel, vertical toothed belt/chain drives (4, 4′), which are connected to one another in a torque proof manner at an upper/lower end via a shaft (5), that the cup platform (3) encompasses two lateral guide carriages (6, 6′), which can be coupled to the respectively assigned toothed belt/chain drive (4, 4′).
 2. The beverage machine of claim 1, characterized in, that the two guide carriages (6, 6′) in each case encompass two rollers (7), by means of which they are guided in corresponding guide tracks (8, 8′).
 3. The beverage machine of claim 2, characterized in, that the cup platform (3) can be removed from the adjusting device (2) together with the guide carriages (6, 6′) and/or that the adjusting device (2) can be removed from the beverage machine (1).
 4. The beverage machine of claim 2, characterized in, that the guide tracks (8, 8′) are located in an area, which can be accessed for cleaning purposes, whereas the vertical toothed belt/chain drives (4, 4′) are arranged so as to be covered.
 5. The beverage machine of claim 1, characterized in, that a gripper element (10) is arranged at each guide carriage (6, 6′), by means of which a connection to the corresponding toothed belt/chain drive (4, 4′) can be established in that the gripper element (10) engages with a recess at the corresponding toothed belt or at a corresponding chain of the toothed belt/chain drive (4, 4′).
 6. The beverage machine of claim 1, characterized in, in that the adjusting device (2) can be adjusted manually or by means of a motor.
 7. The beverage machine of claim 1, characterized in, that provision is made in the area of the toothed belt/chain drive (4, 4′) for a magnetic brake (14), which decelerates a downwards movement of the cup platform (3).
 8. The beverage machine of claim 7, characterized in, that the magnetic brake (14) encompasses a freewheel assembly (18) in a direction of rotation, so that an unbraked upwards movement of the cup platform (3) is possible.
 9. The beverage machine of claim 7, characterized in, that the magnetic brake (14) is flange-mounted to the shaft (5) of the toothed belt/chain drive (4, 4′).
 10. The beverage machine of claim 7, characterized in, that the magnetic brake (14) encompasses a gear mechanism (15) and a flywheel mass (16).
 11. An adjusting device (2) for the beverage machine (1) of claim
 7. 12. A magnetic brake (14) for the adjusting device (2) of claim
 11. 